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Arevalo, Evelyn From: Jenna Perez < Sent: Tuesday, February 4, 2025 3:59 PM To: eComment Cc: Amezcua, Valerie; Bacerra, Phil; Phan, Thai; Penaloza, David; Lopez, Jessie; Hernandez, Johnathan; Vazquez, Benjamin Subject: Agenda Item 21: Sanctuary Policy Advisory Group Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana.Use caution when opening attachments or links. Dear Mayor Amezcua and City Councilmembers, My name is Jenna Perez, and I am a proud resident of Ward 1 in Santa Ana. Having been born and raised in this city, I know firsthand that immigrants—regardless of their legal status—are the lifeblood of Santa Ana. They are our neighbors, family members, and the owners of the businesses we rely on daily. They deserve protection and support from the city they help build and sustain. With the growing threat of mass deportations and rising anti-immigrant sentiments in neighboring cities like Huntington Beach—where immigrant residents have been denied the protections of a sanctuary city—it is more critical than ever for Santa Ana to not only stand firm in its commitment to immigrant rights but to lead the charge. Santa Ana has the opportunity to be a beacon of hope and a model for other cities, showing what it means to truly protect, uplift, and defend the immigrant communities that make our cities thrive. I am writing to express my strong support for Agenda Item 21 and to urge you to move forward with reinstating the Sanctuary Policy Advisory Group. This community oversight mechanism, written into the original ordinance, was designed to foster trust and transparency between the City of Santa Ana and its immigrant residents. In January 2017, the City Council passed a robust ordinance that included the establishment of a task force made up of community members to advise the Council on policies related to immigrant protections. This advisory group was intended to help craft policies that safeguard immigrant communities and provide recommendations on the use and oversight of a city fund to support immigrants facing deportation. Unfortunately, the advisory group has not convened in some time. Given the current climate of uncertainty, now is the time to reaffirm our city's commitment by reviving this crucial group. Santa Ana's status as a sanctuary city reflects years of community-based struggles advocating for the political, economic, and human rights of our vibrant immigrant population. I stand in full support of Councilwoman Lopez's request to reconvene the advisory group within 30 days to provide updates and recommendations on how the city can better protect its residents. Thank you for your time and attention to this critical matter. I look forward to seeing the Sanctuary Policy Advisory Group reinstated and the positive role it will play in protecting immigrant rights in Santa Ana. Sincerely, Jenna Perez Resident, Ward 1, Santa Ana i